Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company

Textile wastewater is polluted by inorganic/organic substances, polymers, dyes, and microfibers (MFs), which are microplastics (MPs) natural fibers. This work aimed at the preliminary investigation of MFs MPs in textile industrial wastewater, evaluating removal efficiency an on-site treatment plant (WWTP). Ten samples inflows outflows WWTP a company (applying physic-chemical process) have been analyzed. Firstly, underwent pretreatment with 15% hydrogen peroxide 25 °C for 5 days to remove organic compounds. Secondly, were recovered from aqueous phase pre-screening centrifugation, density separation, filtration as alternative options. Filtration obtained best performances, compared other recovery processes. Thirdly, counted through optical microscopy identified micro-FTIR. The amount inflow was range 893–4452 MFs/L. outflow (310–2404 MFs/L) exhibited 38–65% reduction inflows, demonstrating that up 62% residual can enter sewer network or receiving water body. Cotton wool, numerous (acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, viscose/rayon) (with only exception “dense” viscose (rayon), not detected outflows, probably retained sludge). study, even if just preliminary, offers interesting hints future research on MFs/MPs detection performance full-scale WWT process their removal.